Planning: Democratized and playful

A speaker at Sarasota's Florida House offered a glimpse into the ways that high tech can combine with simple "low touch" methods to empower and broaden the reach of community-based planning initiatives.

Using a Smart Table, Ken Snyder of Denver-based Radian|Placematters presented an assortment of practical and proactive tools that his firm has used with communities around the world. Tools such as mobile polling apps help gather ideas from residents and stakeholders, or enable area residents to explore alternative scenarios.

Reaching into an entire community allows the planning process to tap local knowledge in ways that can add value and insight to key decisions.

Some of the methods involve play -- pop-up playgrounds, for example, that can be set up in an impromptu fashion after a design session with children who then use it -- designing, making, and enjoying the finished product all in one.

Such methods "get people engaged," said Snyder. They "activate the space," allowing for alternative scenarios to be explored inexpensively.

The process of envisioning not only offers alternative scenarios, but develops a portrait of the value priorities specific to a locale. With that insight a plan can take shape that "connects values and strategies," said Snyder.

Smart Table

Some techniques employ sophisticated programs, like a cloud-based facility that does simultaneous translation in real time. Others use simple tools -- blocks or other visual components -- enabling the planning process to overcome traditional barriers of language, age and background, Snyder said. This all contributes to a trend he's seeing which he calls "the democratization of planning."

Hi-Tech, High-Touch Planning - Florida House Nov. 1, 6 pm

Local involvement in planning - from neighborhoods to cities - is not just something happening at the Celery Fields.

Communities around the nation are becoming more proactively involved in decisions regarding their lands and resources, and using a variety of low and high tech tools to realize their visions.

Hear more about this on Wednesday evening  from a planner who's working with communities - 6 pm at the Florida House:

HIGH-TECH, HIGH-TOUCH PLANNING: INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR MANAGING COMPLEXITY IN COMMUNITIES

At the Florida House

Wednesday November 1st at 6 PM

In planning, complexity is a given. Creating great places requires constant improvements to how we make decisions, encourage innovation, and implement new ideas. Community planners and city managers are frequently on the lookout for an integrated solution—a silver bullet—that will help them manage this complexity. While sophisticated models and data systems might contribute to some increased controls and understandings, there is a growing trend of enthusiastic technologists integrating tools which have specialized purposes but also play nicely within other frameworks. Sometimes low-tech, very tactile approaches to planning are the missing ingredient to communities being able to explore options and tackle complex challenges. From roll out green lanes for experimenting with different street designs to sophisticated modeling tools that help optimize urban systems, Ken Snyder will demonstrate some of his favorite tools and techniques used to foster creativity, inform, and build consensus amongst diverse stakeholders in our work to create more vibrant, sustainable places.

Ken Snyder is Programming Director at Radian|Placematters, a nonprofit that provides guidance for individuals, organizations and neighborhoods to actively participate in creating healthier, sustainable and more equitable communities. He is a nationally recognized expert on a broad range of technical and non-technical tools for community design and decision-making. Ken was the founder of PlaceMatters Inc., which merged with Radian Inc. in 2017.

Florida House Institute - 4454 Beneva Road - Sarasota, FL 34233 – 941-924-2050